WATCH: The Tug-of-War for a Child’s Heart in Call Me Mother

Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre star in Call Me Mother, a story about motherhood, custody, and the meaning of family

Motherhood comes in many forms. Some mothers give birth but, for reasons only life can explain, cannot raise their children. Others step into that role wholeheartedly, offering love, stability, and a home—even if the child didn’t come from their womb.

This emotional push-and-pull is at the heart of Call Me Mother, the latest offering from ABS-CBN Studio, ABS-CBN Films, Viva Films, and IdeaFirst Company, top-billed by Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre and directed by Jun Robles Lana.

A Complicated Path to Adoption

In the trailer, we meet Twinkle (Vice Ganda), a single mom raising her adopted son Angelo. In one tender moment, she dreams of taking him to a theme park—only to wake up and realize that life, and the law, sometimes get in the way. Wanting to secure a passport for Angelo, Twinkle is forced to seek help from Mara (Nadine Lustre), the woman who turns out to be Angelo’s biological mother.

Mara agrees—but with a twist. She wants Twinkle to train her for an upcoming beauty pageant, setting the stage for an unlikely partnership between two women tied to one child.

As their arrangement continues, Mara slowly gets to know Angelo. The more time she spends with him, the more Twinkle begins to feel threatened. She has loved and raised Angelo for years, and now fears losing the bond she has carefully built. Mara, meanwhile, struggles with the resurfacing instincts of a biological mother who once let go—but now longs to reconnect.

When Two Mothers Want the Same Child

The tension grows as both women grapple with what motherhood truly means. Is it defined by blood, or by the years spent nurturing a child’s heart?

This question, painful and familiar to many families navigating adoption and blended parenting, becomes the emotional anchor of the film. How far will each mother go to fight for time, affection, and custody over Angelo?

The film also features support from Pinoy Big Brother alumni River Joseph, Shuvee Etrata, Klarisse de Guzman, Brent Manalo, Mika Salamanca, and Esnyr, adding youthful energy and a fresh dynamic to the story.

A Story Many Parents Will See Themselves In

Call Me Mother echoes real-life parenting dilemmas and even recalls memorable stories from programs like Maalaala Mo Kaya, where love, sacrifice, and complicated custody choices take center stage. Many parents—biological, adoptive, or foster—may see pieces of their own journey in Twinkle and Mara’s intertwined lives.

At its core, the film asks a question that has no easy answer: Who does a child truly belong to—the mother who gave birth, or the mother who stayed?

Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre during the launch of the Call Me Mother trailer. Photo from ABS CBN PR

Prepare Your Tissues (and Maybe a Hug or Two)

Even with just a three-minute trailer, the film promises heartfelt confrontations—especially between Vice and Nadine—balanced with humor, warmth, and a sprinkle of kilig courtesy of the PBB housemates. Fans of BreKa, Brent-Esnyr, and ShuKla will surely enjoy their moments on screen.

Call Me Mother is part of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival and opens in cinemas on December 25—a fitting time for stories about love, family, and the true meaning of belonging.

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